Quake 3 was a huge game back in its day, and a tech breakthrough that powered the modern galaxy of 3D shooter games. So what does Quake 3 look like on the inside? Since id Software makes a habit of releasing the source for their older games, the more technically inclined gamers have been able to sort through the gears and pistons that power this monster from gaming’s past. Here’s a hardcore exploration of Quake 3’s inner workings. Fabien Sanglard has the story.

Quake 3 was built by some of the best programmers in the business. If you’re a coder, you need to check this thing out. There’s no doubt you’ll learn something new. For everyone else, well… Ever wonder how games do what they do? It’s a technical read, but very enlightening.